Biography:
Bintou Dembélé is a dancer and choreographer who is recognized as one of the pioneer figures of Hip hop dance in France. Born on 30 March 1975 in the suburbs of Paris, Bintou grew up in a family that had emigrated to France after Sub-Saharan Africa’s decolonization. Her passion for dance began at a young age when she started dancing with her brothers at the age of ten. The show H.I.P. H.O.P. on the French TV channel TF1 played a significant role in shaping her interest in Hip Hop dance.
In 1985, Bintou Dembélé, along with her friends Gérard Léal and Anselme Terezo, formed the dance group Boogie Breakers. They began showcasing their dance skills in public spaces in their neighborhood. A turning point in her career came in 1989 when she joined the group Concept of Art where several collectives of rappers and dancers were born. During her time in middle school, she expanded her repertoire by joining the dance groups Aktuel Force (in 1993 and 1997) and Mission Impossible (1994-1996), where she learned different styles of Hip Hop dance such as House Dance, New Style, and Break Dancing. Through collective trainings and practice in iconic Parisian spots like Châtelet les Halles, Place du Trocadéro-et-du-11-Novembre, Place Georges-Pompidou, and La Défense, she honed her skills and gained street credibility.
Bintou Dembélé’s dedication to her craft led her to participate in street shows, festivals, battles, and national-scale Hip Hop competitions. Her talent also took her beyond the French borders, as she performed in nightclubs in Belgium and prestigious venues in Paris like Le Palace, Le Bataclan, and Le Divan du Monde.
In 1996, Dembélé’s professional career took off when she was recruited by the Théâtre Contemporain de la Danse de Paris (TCD) as a dancer and choreographer. The following year, she joined the dance group Collectif Mouv’ and created her first show titled Et si ! (What if…!) with break dancer Rabah Mahfoufi. During this time, she also collaborated with renowned French Jazz saxophonist Julien Lourau and the musical organization Groove Gang to create a show called Come fly with us.
In addition to her work with Collectif Mouv’, Bintou Dembélé co-founded the dance groups Ykanji and Ladyside. Her participation in popular French TV shows such as Graines de stars and Hit Machine provided opportunities for her to connect with French rappers and dancers like MC Solaar and Bambi Cruz. This led to her dancing in MC Solaar’s concert at l’Olympia in Paris, where she performed in a show choreographed by renowned choreographer Blanca Li.
Inspired by the memory of the body and exploring the themes of colonial and post-colonial French history, Bintou Dembélé’s work has been influential in the world of dance. Since 2002, she has been the artistic director of her own dance company, Rualité, where she continues to push boundaries and engage audiences through her unique artistic vision and powerful performances.